Remote start bad for engine?

[RangerDangerStranger]

people blow thier engines all the time, stressing them when cold. engines don't like stress when cold, but can be beat on w/o dammage once warmed up. Warming the engine before driving the truck is the ideal situation. Driving cold is not.

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[drcollie]

I've owned over 100 trucks/car/motorcycles and have never "worn" out an engine, though one particular Porsche 911 was about ready for new bearings and value guides at 227,000 miles. Run modern synthetic oils in your engine, get the oil temp (which takes about 3x longer than water temp) up to normal before you drive it hard, and the engine will likely last far longer than you will own the vehicle.

What you should be mindful of however, is our engines in these trucks are turbocharged, and the bearings are lubricated off the main engine sump. What you want to avoid is running the truck hard, then pulling and shutting it off quickly as that bearing on that turbo is still spinning at many thousands of rpms with no oil feed. So before you turn off your turbo engined vehicle, drive it conservatively the last minute or two before shutdown, that will prolong your turbocharger life span. I just had to replace a turbo in one of my commercial diesel trucks, and that was $ 3,500.

 

[CWOJohn]

I start it then wait for it to come to normal Idle, then drive it slowly until it comes to temp...

I do the same, have done that for most of my vehicles, most of my life. Start up, wait for initial RPMs to come back down to idle. I have about 4 miles of 35 mph roads and stop lights before I reach highway for commute, usually by then it is warmed enough in winter to drive normally.

 

[PierreD]

I plug in the block heater overnight, and start the engine when I get out.
The truck is cozy warm after a minute of driving. Not by the time I get to my destination if I don't plug it in....
I don't need to let it sit for 10 minutes wasting gas. Hardly use the remote start app........

 

[Davejb]

I plug in the block heater overnight, and start the engine when I get out.
The truck is cozy warm after a minute of driving. Not by the time I get to my destination if I don't plug it in....
I don't need to let it sit for 10 minutes wasting gas. Hardly use the remote start app........

What costs more, running the block heater all night or 10 minutes of gas?

 

[Doc]

What costs more, running the block heater all night or 10 minutes of gas?

If I was in Canada, I’d go with the Block Heater ...
Regards

 

[dtech]

I . Every automotive forum that I’ve joined, going back to the days when all communication was by plain text email, seems to have one or more AMSOIL salesmen who capitalize on every opportunity to make a “recommendation” for AMSOIL products.

OMG you nailed it, they do hang on the forums, I clearly remember on the Saabnet forum an amsoil peddler who went by the moniker "Dick from Fall Church" and he never, never once missed an opportunity to weigh in on an oil thread, so predictable.

 

[NOVA_Ranger]

I use my remote start because I want to be warm when I get behind the wheel. Never gave it much thought beyond that, haha. Interesting discussion...

 

[r1ch999999]

What costs more, running the block heater all night or 10 minutes of gas?

Depending on how cold it gets, you might not get it running without one.

 

[Arly]

Some people over think things....... I use our remote starter!

 

[Davejb]

Depending on how cold it gets, you might not get it running without one.

Wasn't arguing that fact.

 

[r1ch999999]

Honestly, if I had block heaters I'd use them in both our cars, even with parking in a garage at night. There are plenty of options to only allow them to be run for specified times, and I'd much rather do that then idle a cold engine.

 

[D Fresh]

I've owned over 100 trucks/car/motorcycles and have never "worn" out an engine, though one particular Porsche 911 was about ready for new bearings and value guides at 227,000 miles. Run modern synthetic oils in your engine, get the oil temp (which takes about 3x longer than water temp) up to normal before you drive it hard, and the engine will likely last far longer than you will own the vehicle.

What you should be mindful of however, is our engines in these trucks are turbocharged, and the bearings are lubricated off the main engine sump. What you want to avoid is running the truck hard, then pulling and shutting it off quickly as that bearing on that turbo is still spinning at many thousands of rpms with no oil feed. So before you turn off your turbo engined vehicle, drive it conservatively the last minute or two before shutdown, that will prolong your turbocharger life span. I just had to replace a turbo in one of my commercial diesel trucks, and that was $ 3,500.

While in general I like this advice, it's a little outdated. Our (and almost all modern gasoline turbos) turbos are both oil and water cooled. "Cool down" before shutting off is really a necessity of the past, like turbo timers.




That being said, I've been without remote start for a decade and a half. I work 3rds, field work, the remote start via FordPass is amazing. Love having a warm truck wiring for me when I get to the lot.

 

[VAMike]

While in general I like this advice, it's a little outdated. Our (and almost all modern gasoline turbos) turbos are both oil and water cooled. "Cool down" before shutting off is really a necessity of the past, like turbo timers.

In addition to improved cooling, turbos on small engines are also a light lighter with less thermal mass than they were back in the day--so they cool down a lot faster. If you're operating a heavy diesel then of course you should follow the prescribed shutdown procedure.

 

[D Fresh]

In addition to improved cooling, turbos on small engines are also a light lighter with less thermal mass than they were back in the day--so they cool down a lot faster. If you're operating a heavy diesel then of course you should follow the prescribed shutdown procedure.

For sure! Totally different animal.

But it's good advice still. "An ounce of prevention..." and what not.

Never had a pawl break on an auto transmission. But I still try to make sure to set the parking brake before shifting into park on a hill out of an overabundance of caution.

Same thing with your points. It never hurts to care of your stuff.

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